All of the things I’ve ever worried about hitting in my car (or getting hit by for that matter) suddenly seem a bit insignificant compared to getting rammed by a rhino. I wonder what that does to your insurance premiums...

The jaw-dropping footage comes our way from Namibia's Etosha National Park, where park visitor Alexandra Poier filmed it from a nearby vehicle. “I think the rhino saw a threat and that is why he attacked,” he says. “To be honest, I was quite scared because it could have been our car."

Considering these animals can charge at up to 35mph, and tip the scales (and apparently cars) at 1700-3,000 pounds (800-1,350kg!), we can understand the fear – but it's important to note that incidents like this are rare.

Without more details about the situation, it's hard to know exactly what prompted the onslaught, though black rhinos (Diceros bicornis) like this one are known to have more aggressive temperaments than their white cousins. It's also possible that this individual had a calf nearby, making it more protective than usual.

In this case, fortunately, all’s well that ends well. Everyone involved, including the rhino, walked away no worse for wear. Except the car, that is. 

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Top header image: John Boyle, Flickr